The Battle Plan
5/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | General
A Crucial Time in the Competitive Calendar
For many reasons, May is one of my favorite times of the year. We have so many of our teams entering the crucial point of their seasons. It is always great to see how our student-athletes and coaches respond in big games and in post season play where you either win or go home. Some of the greatest lessons our coaches teach about sport and life come from high intensity competition.
One great example that has been developing over the last 10 days is the resurgence of our baseball team, which has won six straight games. They are entering this weekend's home finale in Hoover against defending national champion Vanderbilt. Now, a three-game series against the defending national champions (who are currently ranked in the top 10) is never an easy task. But it's also a great opportunity for Coach Mitch Gaspard's team to close the regular season on a high note, and if successful, extend the season into post season play.
Last weekend at Auburn, our young men swept the nation's No. 23-ranked team with a pair of dramatic victories in the first two games followed by a 14-4 blowout in the series finale. That series sweep revealed an impressive fortitude and spirit by our team, which has had to overcome a lot of adversity this season. While playing at The Hoover Met has been a first-rate experience for our team, coaches and staff, it is still a difficult and unusual reality to deal with over the course of a season. It is like playing all our home games on the road. Having gone through a tough non-conference schedule (in which our team has gone 17-8 this season), along with the always difficult SEC schedule, I must say that I am extremely proud and impressed by this team's perseverance.
Coach Gaspard and his staff deserve a lot of credit for getting this team to where it is now, playing its best ball of the season at crunch time after a lot of struggles. It's beginning to look as if the tough schedule and close games have prepared us to finish strong this season .That is certainly the plan for playing tough non-conference competition We are excited to see if we can continue to play at the high level that we were able to achieve last weekend against a hot Auburn team in hostile territory.
As it stands today, the Crimson Tide is in a dogfight with three teams (Georgia, Mississippi State and Tennessee) for the final two spots in the SEC Tournament. Ten teams have qualified. We would win a tiebreaker over State by virtue of our series win in Starkville earlier this season, and we enter the weekend three games ahead of the Bulldogs. One Alabama win over Vanderbilt, or one Tennessee loss against State, would clinch an SEC tourney berth for the Tide. A combination of two Alabama wins or Georgia losses to Arkansas will have the Crimson Tide in ahead of Georgia.
Our team needs all the support you can possibly provide this weekend! Please get out to The Hoover Met and make your presence felt. If we can get to the SEC Tournament, we get to play on our "home" field for a chance to earn an NCAA bid! Since 1990, an average of seven SEC teams have made it to the NCAA Tournament each season. Last year, the SEC had nine teams earn bids. A good showing this weekend, and a good showing in the SEC Tournament (should it come to pass), is not a remote possibility. But you can help make that a reality. We depend on you! Show up this weekend and enjoy our team, which is playing great ball!
Several of our teams have already secured NCAA postseason berths.
Coach Patrick Murphy's softball team is in the tournament for the 17th consecutive season and will host a regional this weekend at Rhoads Stadium with Washington (40-16), South Carolina Upstate (43-8) and Fairfield (24-22) coming to town. Coach Murphy's record in post-season play is remarkable, having sent nine teams to the Women's College World Series and producing the 2012 national championship. If the Tide wins this weekend's four-team tourney, Alabama will advance to face the winner of the Norman (Okla.) Regional consisting of 11th seed Oklahoma (45-7), Texas A&M (38-18), Lehigh (39-7) and Central Arkansas (35-19). The NCAA Super Regional is slated for next Thursday-Saturday, May 21-24, at Rhoads Stadium, but we have to win this weekend to advance. The Tide begins play on Friday at 3 p.m. against Fairfield at Rhoads Stadium. Please come out and support the Tide!
Our women's golf team advanced from its NCAA Regional to the NCAA Championship Tournament slated for later this month in Bradenton, Fla., the 10th straight year that Coach Mic Potter's team has made it to the championship tournament and the 11th NCAA championships appearance in Crimson Tide history. Our program is one of only three nationally (along with UCLA and Southern California) that have been in the NCAA Championships each of the last 10 consecutive seasons (the top 24 teams advance from the regionals to the final championship round). Our women's tennis team hosted NCAA Tournament first and second round matches last weekend, the Tide's 14th tournament appearance, and its 12th under Coach Jenny Mainz. Our team lost a hard-fought match with Clemson and did not advance in the NCAA Tournament, but our defending national championship doubles team of Erin Routliffe and Maya Jansen will compete again next week in Waco, Texas to defend their 2014 title.
Coach Jay Seawell's men's golf team is competing at an NCAA Regional in Indiana this weekend, the Tide's 11th consecutive appearance in NCAA postseason play and Alabama's 24th overall tournament appearance. Alabama has won three consecutive NCAA Regionals and four overall. And, of course, the last two NCAA championships.
And don't forget our track & field team, which competes in the SEC Outdoor Championships this Thursday through Saturday in Starkville, Miss., and has both the men's team (12th) and women's team (16th) ranked in the top 20 nationally. Coach Dan Waters and his staff have built a contender in four short seasons in charge and have Alabama competing for championships on a regular basis. We are excited to host the SEC outdoor meet in 2016, and believe that event will elevate our Alabama Crimson Tide team and the sport of track & field in the community and our region.
A Fitting Honor for Andy Phillips
Congratulations are in order to assistant baseball coach Andy Phillips on being selected as one of four former standouts to be honored as part of the 2015 SEC Baseball Legends! Andy, one of the most decorated players in the storied history of our baseball program, will be recognized at the 2015 SEC Baseball Tournament in Hoover later this month for his accomplishments as a player at Alabama from 1996-99. As many of you recall, Andy was a key figure in leading the Crimson Tide to three trips to the College World Series during his four-year career, earning consensus All-America honors as a senior.
Andy ended his Alabama career as the school record holder in eight career statistical categories, including runs scored (222), total hits (322), home runs (61), RBI (224) and total bases (590). As a senior in 1999, Andy played hit .398 with 22 home runs and 66 RBI, leading an Alabama team that captured the SEC Tournament title and finished third at the College World Series. Andy and fellow honorees David Eckstein (Florida), Mark Johnson (Texas A&M) and Larry Schmittou (Vanderbilt) will be recognized individually throughout the two quarterfinal matchups on Friday, May 22, and will be honored in an on-field presentation on Saturday, May 23, during the semifinals.
A Word about Spring Commencement
Hearty congratulations also go out to 70 Crimson Tide student-athletes who received their degrees during spring commencement ceremonies on May 1 and 2 in Coleman Coliseum! That group included eight student-athletes who earned All-America honors during their competitive careers, four Academic All-Americans, 13 who were part of national championship teams, and seven who had received their master's degrees. Well done ladies and gentlemen and thank you for your extraordinary accomplishments!
Crimson Tide football legend Tony Nathan, a member of Alabama's 1978 national championship team, was among the 10 football student-athletes who received degrees that weekend. New Orleans Saints defensive back Vinnie Sunseri along with Chris Black, Bradley Sylve and Jabriel Washington were among the Tide's football graduates.
The group also included one young lady who ranks among the most decorated student-athletes in our athletics history - Kim Jacob, the 2014 Honda Cup (collegiate female athlete of the year) and Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-America of the Year (top student among all Division I student-athletes regardless of sport or gender) winner. The 2014 NCAA all-around champion, NCAA Top X honoree and member of the 2011 and 2012 NCAA championship teams, served as a student coach this season after ending her exceptional competitive career along with gymnastics All-American Lora Leigh Frost.
2014 NCAA indoor 200-meter champion and six-time All-America Diondré Batson and All-Americans Charodd Richardson and Alex Sanders were among the track & field graduates. All-America, Academic All-America and NCAA Elite 89 Award winner Mary Anne Daines and All-America and NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winner Daniil Proskura represented the women's and men's tennis teams. All-America and NCAA 100 breaststroke runner-up Kaylin Burchell led 13 swimmers and divers who received diplomas. Academic All-Americans Laura Lee Smith (soccer) and Molly Fichtner (softball) were among those earning degrees as well.
When combined with the Tide's winter graduates, more than 90 Alabama student-athletes have earned their degrees this academic year, with summer graduation yet to come. We wish all of them the best of luck in their future endeavors with the sincere hope that their college experience was not only enjoyable, but also has prepared them for success in life going forward.
The Incredible Growth of The SEC Network - and What It Means for Alabama
It is pretty amazing what The SEC Network has accomplished in its first year of operation. The programming has been excellent. Coverage has been national in scope. Financially, it has been very successful. And of even greater importance, it has showcased the outstanding young men and women of the SEC in all sports. It has been viewed as the most successful cable television launch in history. It has been particularly beneficial to our Olympic sports programs, but it has added value to all sports and all SEC institutions. The effects of this success are far-reaching. For one, it helps in national recruiting, although the value of having men and women from our home states - student-athletes for whom wearing the Alabama jersey has an amazing intrinsic value - cannot be overstated.
According to a story that I read recently, The SEC Network is already at No. 5 in ranking the most valuable national sports networks in the nation. And it has achieved that status after just nine months in existence! That's truly amazing! The metrics used to arrive at the value were based on monthly subscriber fees and using strictly on revenue generated. It's no surprise that ESPN ranks No. 1 with the NFL at No.2 and Fox Sports at No.3 with ESPN2 at No. 4. Speaking strictly from an Alabama perspective, it can be argued that we benefit more than most in the conference from the Network because: 1. We compete for championships in more sports than most and, therefore, we get more coverage at season's end when championships are still on the line. 2. We are ahead of most in both linear and digital production infrastructure and equipment, so we can provide more programming to an almost limitless distribution system.
The SEC Network is a tremendous opportunity for us to take continue to build the University of Alabama brand. It is a fantastic medium to share with the rest of the country the great aspects of collegiate athletics - our successful academics programs, career development and life skills programs, and the amazing success stories of our current and former student-athletes. It is truly a "game changer" that will help us to stay at the forefront of providing the best resources for the benefit of our student-athletes.
Nationally Ranked Teams This Week
This week, five of our active teams remain nationally ranked among the top 25 in their respective sports, including three ranked in the top 15. So far during the 2014-15 academic year, four of our 17 sports teams (two men's, two women's) either finished or are currently ranked in the top 10 nationally, and nine of our 17 sports teams (five women's, four men's) either finished or are currently ranked in the top 20 nationally.
This Week's Ranked Teams
| Sport | Rank |
|---|---|
| Men's Golf | 20th |
| Women's Golf | 24th |
| Softball | 5th/6th |
| Men's Track | 12th |
| Women's Track | 16th |
2014-15 Top 25 National Finishes (Completed Seasons)
| Sport | NCAA Finish or Rank |
|---|---|
| Football | 4th (AP); 4th (USA Today/Coaches) |
| Gymnastics | 4th |
| Men's Swimming | 10th |
| Women's Tennis | 13th |
| Women's Indoor Track | 17th |
Sports Updates
Chick on the dates listed below each sport to access links for complete information regarding news and results for each of our athletics teams.
Baseball
- May 13, 2015 - Tide Wraps up Regular Season, Welcomes 7th-Ranked Vanderbilt
- May 12, 2015 - Alabama Wins 6th Straight, Defeats Mercer, 5-3
- May 12, 2015 - Taylor Guilbeau Named to the 2015 SEC Baseball Community Service Team
- May 12, 2015 - 9 Innings with Coach Gaspard
- May 10, 2015 - Tide Completes Sweep of Auburn with 14-4 Win
- May 9, 2015 - Offense Powers Tide to 7-6 Win over Auburn
- May 8, 2015 - Back-to-Back Solo Homers Power Alabama Past Auburn, 4-2
Men's Basketball
- May 11, 2015 - Derrick McKey & Ennis Whatley to be inducted into Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
- April 29, 2015 - Alabama Adds Transfer Nick King
Women's Basketball
- May 5, 2015 - Tide Adds Taylor Berry for 2015-16 Season
- April 30, 2015 - SEC & Big 12 Announce 2016 & 2017 Women's Basketball Challenge
Football
- May 6, 2015 - 8 More Crimson Tide Players Earn NFL Opportunities
- May 2, 2015 - Alabama has 4 Players Selected on the Final Day of NFL Draft
- May 1, 2015 - 2 Crimson Tide Players Off the Board Quickly in Second Round of NFL Draft
- April 30, 2015 - Amari Cooper Selected No. 4 Overall by the Oakland Raiders
Men's Golf
- May 4, 2015 - Alabama Earns No. 4 Seed in 2015 NCAA Noblesville (Ind.) Regional
- April 30, 2015 - Shelton Named First Team All-SEC, Hardee Earns All-Freshman Honors
Women's Golf
- May 9, 2015 - Tide Ties for 4th at NCAA Raleigh Regional; Advances to NCAA Championships
- May 1, 2015 - Emma Talley and Lakareber Abe Earn All-SEC Honors
Rowing
- May 13, 2015 - Alabama Qualifies 25 Rowers to Academic All-Big 12 Team
Softball
- May 14, 2015 - Alabama Boasts 5 on NFCA All-South Region Team
- May 12, 2015 - Tide Enters NCAA Tournament Ranked No. 5/6 in National Polls
- May 10, 2015 - Softball Earns No. 6 Seed in NCAA Tournament, Will Host NCAA Regional
Men's Tennis
- May 12, 2015 - Korey Lovett Earns ITA Southern Region Rookie of the Year Honors
Women's Tennis
- May 12, 2015 - Women's Tennis Earns 2 ITA Southern Region Awards
- May 9, 2015 - Tide Falls to Clemson in 2nd Round of NCAA Tournament, 4-2
- May 8, 2015 - Alabama Advances to 2nd Round of NCAA Tournament with 4-0 Win Over Samford
Track & Field
- May 12, 2015 - Tide Men 12th, Women's Team 16th in National Team Rankings
- May 11, 2015 - 8 Alabama Athletes, 3 Relays, Rank In Collegiate Top 20 in 7
- May 11, 2015 - 27 Alabama Athletes, 4 Relays, Rank In SEC Top 10 in 22 Events
- May 11, 2015 - 9 Tide Track & Field Athletes Recently Receive Diplomas from the Capstone
- May 8, 2015 - Dion Miller Named Assistant Track & Field Coach
- May 8, 2015 - Blaine Wiley Named Assistant Track & Field Coach
- May 2, 2015 - Felpel Wins 2 Events to Lead Strong Day for Tide at LSU Invitational
General Athletics News
- May 7, 2015 - Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Donates $65,000 to Alabama Charities
- April 30, 2015 - 70 Student-Athletes Slated for Spring Graduation Including 8 All-Americans
Upcoming Action
Here's a summary of athletic events over the next several days (times listed are for the location of the event: CT is Central Time. ET in Eastern Time):
Friday, May 15
| Time | Sport | Opponent/Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 p.m. CT | Track & Field | at SEC Outdoor Championships | Starkville, Miss. |
| 3 p.m. CT,/td> | Softball | NCAA Regional vs. Fairfield | Rhoads Stadium |
| 7 p.m. CT | Baseball | Vanderbilt | Hoover |
| All Day | Men's Golf | at NCAA Regional | Noblesville, Ind. |
Saturday, May 16
| Time | Sport | Opponent/Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 p.m. CT | Track & Field | at SEC Outdoor Championships | Starkville, Miss. |
| 3:30 p.m. CT | Baseball | Vanderbilt | Hoover |
| TBD | Softball | NCAA Regional | Rhoads Stadium |
| All Day | Men's Golf | at NCAA Regional | Noblesville, Ind. |
| All Day | Rowing | at Big 12 Championships | Oak Ridge, Tenn. |
Sunday, May 17
| Time | Sport | Opponent/Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Day | Rowing | at Big 12 Championships | Oak Ridge, Tenn. |
Monday, May 18
No Events Scheduled
Tuesday, May 19
No Events Scheduled
Wednesday, May 20
| Time | Sport | Opponent/Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD | Men's Tennis | at NCAA Singles/Doubles | Waco, Texas |
| TBD | Women's Tennis | at NCAA Singles/Doubles | Waco, Texas |
Thursday, May 21
| Time | Sport | Opponent/Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD | Men's Tennis | at NCAA Singles/Doubles | Waco, Texas |
| TBD | Women's Tennis | at NCAA Singles/Doubles | Waco, Texas |
Friday, May 22
| Time | Sport | Opponent/Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD | Men's Tennis | at NCAA Singles/Doubles | Waco, Texas |
| TBD | Women's Tennis | at NCAA Singles/Doubles | Waco, Texas |
| TBD | Women's Golf | at NCAA Championships | Bradenton, Fla. |
Where to See, Listen and Follow Alabama Sports
Here's how to follow Crimson Tide teams via TV, radio, rolltide.com, Twitter and Facebook:
Baseball
Listen: 99.1 FM (http://player.listenlive.co/22751)
Live Stats: Gametracker via RollTide.com
TV (Friday): SEC Network +
TV (Saturday): SEC Network
Twitter: @AlabamaBSB
App: TuneIn
Men's Golf
Live Stats: www.golfstat.com
Twitter: @AlabamaMGolf
Women's Golf
Live Stats: www.golfstat.com
Twitter: @AlabamaWGolf
Softball
TV: SEC Network / SEC Network +
Radio: 95.3 FM (http://953thebear.com/listen-live/)
Radio App: Radio Pup
Live Stats: Gametracker via RollTide.com
Twitter: @AlabamaSB
Men's Tennis
Twitter: @AlabamaMTN
Women's Tennis
Twitter: @AlabamaWTN
Track & Field
Live Results: www.branchsportstech.com
Twitter: @AlabamaTrack
TV (Online Only): SEC Network +
Catch Alabama Athletics on the SEC Network
Here's a summary of our athletic events to be televised over the next week on The SEC Network and its platforms. Read this schedule closely as some events can be seen via SEC Network +, which is available online via ESPN3 here. If you can't make it to our games in person, catch us on radio or TV.
(All times listed are Central Time)
Friday, May 15
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 3 p.m. | Softball vs. Fairfield | SEC Network |
| 3:40 p.m. | 2015 SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships | SEC Network + |
| 7 p.m. | Baseball vs. Vanderbilt | SEC Network + |
Saturday, May 16
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 2:50 p.m. | 2015 SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships | SEC Network + |
| 3:30 p.m. | Baseball vs. Vanderbilt | SEC Network |
Sunday, May 17
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| Noon to 5 p.m. | NCAA Softball Regionals | SEC Network |
| 5 p.m. | REPLAY: 2015 Golden Flake A-Day Spring Football Game | SEC Network |
Monday, May 18
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 4 a.m. | REPLAY: 1982 Iron Bowl - Auburn vs. Alabama | SEC Network |
| 11 a.m. | REPLAY: 2015 SEC Gymnastics Championship | SEC Network |
| 1 p.m. | REPLAY: 2015 SEC Women's Golf Championships | SEC Network |
| 1:30 p.m. | REPLAY: 2015 SEC Women's Tennis Championships | SEC Network |
| 11 p.m. | SEC Rewind: 1992 SEC Football Championship Game Alabama vs. Florida | SEC Network |
Tuesday, May 19
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. | 2015 SEC Baseball Tournament | SEC Network |
Wednesday, May 20
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. | 2015 SEC Baseball Tournament | SEC Network |
Thursday, May 21
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. | 2015 SEC Baseball Tournament | SEC Network |
Friday, May 22
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. | 2015 SEC Baseball Tournament | SEC Network |
Our teams need your support, so please plan to attend to do your part! A rising tide lifts all boats and it's up to all of us to Keep the Tide Rising!
Roll Tide!
